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Readers comment on Cooper-board budget dispute

This week, Lafayette Parish School Superintendent Pat Cooper plans to survey teachers about the districts $23.5 million budget shortfall. Here’s what some readers are saying about the issue on social media.

Readers comment on Cooper-board budget dispute

This week, Lafayette Parish School Superintendent Pat Cooper plans to survey teachers about the districts $23.5 million budget shortfall. Here’s what some readers are saying about the issue on social media.

Kathleen Schott Espinoza: At the very least the people of Lafayette Parish deserve an apology for a $23.5 million budget shortfall (almost 10% of the total operating budget of the general fund) that pits teachers against social workers, strategists and nurses, all of whom share a profound concern for the children of the Lafayette Parish Public School system. Amanda, the $8 million Cooper quotes from charter schools is different from the often stated $12 million. I’m assuming he moved $4 million into the unfunded category of liability. I suppose he was counting on the Senate Bill 666 to pass? When it failed Lafayette Parish had to assume the total $12 million. Is this correct? Also the charter schools were approved in October of 2013. Was there any effort on the part of the administration to work with the board over the last 7 months to mitigate the impact we find ourselves in today?

Kimberly Kunst Domangue: A “must do” for this budgetary process is to support financially direct classroom instruction. This means at the minimum maintenance of current teacher:student ratios in the classrooms. Sometimes the ratios reported do not truly reflect “face-time” between students and their classroom teachers. “True” lower teacher:student ratios provide for a nimble, adaptive learning experience. This takes its form in more meaningful, responsive “teachable moments.” Teachers will in “real time” modify instruction to mesh with student learning needs. Teaching also extends beyond the four walls of the classroom. Lower ratios allow teachers time to provide thoughtful, extensive feedback both to students and their families. This essential point of interface further enhances the teacher’s ability to personalize instruction.

Bodin Ron: I hope the board investigates what seems shady. I recall that before Cooper, the system had 4 primary instructional supervisors. Now we have 37 instructional strategists, 37! Why couldn’t these pros teach 3 hours a day and strategize 3 hours a day and save jobs and money. Each school has counselors — now there are 17 social workers. Why not ask LSU MSW program to assign their interns to do this work — I worked with these students at a facility I managed. They are supervised by LSU and are young and ready to work. LSU picks up the bill. I still cannot understand why so many millions were spend at Moss Prep: 1. My last days there in May 2013 and I saw what everyone sees-central air only in classrooms that face roadways — window units where the public does not have visual access to the facility. 2. I taught in the 3 classrooms above the library-classrooms have window units, but the hallway is centrally air conditioned, What? 3. Lots of paint and tile at Moss — how much construction? Gym locker rooms, ok. Cafeteria kitchen, Yes. Why do floors sag in the main building? How much was spent on paint, tile, cosmetic changes and how much was spent on actual construction. The total bill was 3,000,000? The school’s annual budget — $5,000,000? How much was saved by closing LAPS?CAPS?Charter HS — they had a combined budget of about $2M. Moss? $5M. That is a savings? And how many arrests a day at that school? How many threats to teachers — female staff threatened with rape? And worse. How much construction at Northside HS? How much spent - not on construction but on paint and tile (cosmetics)? How many lawsuits are outstanding vs the board based on actions of the superintendent? That’s public record — why is that not being reported?

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